Bolivia airline fares spark debate over steep price hikes

Senator Marcela Guerrero of Tarija denounced recent surges in ticket prices charged by the state carrier Boliviana de Aviación (BoA), citing fares that have reached up to 1,800 bolivianos amid the country’s economic and transport crises. She urged authorities and the airline to lower prices so that air travel remains a necessity, not a luxury, for workers, families, patients and students.

The Telecommunications, Transport and Communications Authority (ATT) countered rumors of arbitrary fare increases, stating that price differences stem mainly from flights with layovers. The regulator said it had updated reference maximum fares for 17 domestic routes, with increases of 20‑40 % on some segments – for example, La Paz‑Santa Cruz rose from about 871 to 1,118 bolivianos, and La Paz‑Cochabamba from roughly 401 to 554 bolivianos. The ATT emphasized that airlines cannot charge above the set maximums and that variations also depend on purchase timing, itinerary and operational costs.